Wallaby 31 players for 2015 RWC

[Groucho]

Is there independent assessment?

It's the wildest speculation to hypothesise that in the event of an injury players can't be replaced. If that were the case then teams that suffer injuries to two hookers or props would be equally sunk.

 

[cyclopath]

I never left that place.
You gotta admit its funny how almost everyone agreed as to what the issue was.
Oh - and I dont blame Ledesma: i blame anyone who thought any squad of any number would be better with 5 wingers - and 4 10's

You know what, we can either spend the next several weeks bitching about it (der!) or accept it is what it is and support the team. My current general outlook and mental approach is to not spend too much time in "der derka der" and more in looking at upside, so I'll leave the Wallaby Squad vivisection to all the experts, and just get on with hoping for the best. Yeah, I'm puzzled too, but I do a narrow-focussed job for a living, and really can't claim to know two-fifths of fuck all about coaching a rugby team, so I don't have the energy to howl endlessly at the moon about the team. If Cheika came to me and wanted an expert opinion about what I do, I'd expect him to listen to me.........
Read that how you like.

 

[Groucho]

You're right. Perhaps the masses are off the mark when they consider a second back up to a non specialist position to be less important than a single back up to a specialist position.

Perhaps they are. I for one have no problem with admitting I know less about rugby than the professionals who're paid to run our national team. Maybe what is happening is innovative thinking that I just don't understand yet. Maybe it's a risk taken for good reasons. Maybe there are facts I don't know. Maybe all of the above. Sometimes the masses are wrong.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

In fairness Cheika is much closer to the masses in studying the players at training etc and working out strategies in regards to backup's etc.....

I note one of the Fox sports pundits on rugby HQ last night also picked a squad with only 2 hookers so Cheika at least is not alone in his thinking....

It may seem risky but it is just that - as we don't doubt we have the 2 best hookers in the squad do we - so yes a risk but one that can be managed - so perhaps focussing a little too much on the 5% rather than the bigger picture and positives of the squad I may suggest.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

No, I don't really think it's "planned", but I suspect there will be niggles and injuries that will allow the opportunity for new squad members to come in. Just a gut feeling.
Anyway, best to get back to the outrage at how stupid Cheika, Larkham, Grey and Ledesma are, and how right all of us are.

>6660 posts. Of course there are some of "us" who are right.

Something something monkeys something typewriters umm unlimited time something Complete Works of William Shakespeare.

A broken clock (analogue version) is precisely correct twice a day.
A clock that looses 1/1000 of a second per day is precisely correct once in every 3608 years.

 

[mudskipper]

I think Palu and Douglas are lucky to be there... i'm sure they will work for it in the matches... Its such a tough Pool group you really need players for all teams...

I'm guessing Douglas and Mumm will be suited to the Northern hemisphere teams... I'm feel sorry for Sam Carter but he is young enough for the 2019 RWC... Its just how it goes, I'm guessing he just isn't fit enough yet... i note he is available for the USA match though...

Personally I'm really pleased for To'omua and Speight who both have had challenges in the past to make the RWC... and Tomane made the mix...

Likewise I'm pleased that Moore is captain too... And Giteau is there to have another crack again is brilliant...

Good luck to ALL the lads and coaches, I'll be watching all the matches gents and enjoying the Wallabies pushing for glory in England...
It will be won in the forwards and Chek is taking as many as possible...

 

[Groucho]

I'm excited by Speight being there. He had no chances in the Kiwi schemozzle. We know how good he can be. He has a month.

 

[Train Without a Station]

It's the wildest speculation to hypothesise that in the event of an injury players can't be replaced. If that were the case then teams that suffer injuries to two hookers or props would be equally sunk.

How is it wild speculation to ask, in the case of a tournament with restrictions on replacements, they independently assess if they meet the restrictions?

Otherwise teams could just claim injury however they see fit. Kind of defeats the purpose of squad restrictions otherwise.

 

[Lorenzo]

It is actually possible to have a discussion about perceived weaknesses in the squad on the day the squad was announced and still "get behind the boys".

These comments that suggest that anyone questioning the selections must think they are qualified to coach the national side are really self righteous. The last two wallaby coaches have barely managed a 50 percent win rate so I'm comfortable assuming that the current one doesn't deserve blind faith.

 

[barbarian]

I liked Douglas when he played for the Tahs, but hasn't his drop off in form been notable since he signed with the Reds?! Woody Graham has a lot to answer for there.
..

 

[Train Without a Station]

Perhaps they are. I for one have no problem with admitting I know less about rugby than the professionals who're paid to run our national team. Maybe what is happening is innovative thinking that I just don't understand yet. Maybe it's a risk taken for good reasons. Maybe there are facts I don't know. Maybe all of the above. Sometimes the masses are wrong.

Ahh the old "they're professionals so they must be right!".

The risk is taken to enable to XV's at training according to Cheika. Is that a huge benefit when you risk major catastrophe in the event of a single injury?

If Moore is injured you either replace your captain for the entire tournament, or play a prop at hooker and hope like fuck that TPN is not injured or yellow carded in the next game and your set piece falls apart.

 

[cyclopath]

It is actually possible to have a discussion about perceived weaknesses in the squad on the day the squad was announced and still "get behind the boys".

These comments that suggest that anyone questioning the selections must think they are qualified to coach the national side are really self righteous. The last two wallaby coaches have barely managed a 50 percent win rate so I'm comfortable assuming that the current one doesn't deserve blind faith.

That's all fine, but my approach is to get an expert to do a specialised job, not have a crack myself because "what the fuck would they know?", but I appreciate others might be polymaths.
Like I said, I'm puzzled, but posting 30 times or more how stupid the coaches are won't change anything, so I choose not to do it. So, I'll get behind them.
Each to their own.
As for anyone on the site, I am entitled to an opinion, this is mine. I'm not stopping anyone having a rant, so have at it.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The problem with this "getting behind the boys" stuff is its all a bit 1913 - at a minimum the rugby public needs to feel it has some clue what's going on.
Cheika has picked enough from left field and produced enough sub par performances for us not to take his selections on faith.
But no amount of whingeing will change any of it.

 

[ACT Crusader]

Haha it's day 1 of the squad announcement and already some on here are repeating what they posted earlier!

If one of the props can play hooker then that's fine. That player is likely to be a bench option for the Uruguay test with TPN starting. To me that doesn't seem so outrageous.

Yes injuries happen and changes may need to take place, but it seems with the pool of death that the two best hookers will be getting the majority of playing time.

Horwill missing out, meh

 

[cyclopath]

The problem with this "getting behind the boys" stuff is its all a bit 1913 - at a minimum the rugby public needs to feel it has some clue what's going on.
Cheika has picked enough from left field and produced enough sub par performances for us not to take his selections on faith.
But no amount of whingeing will change any of it.

FFS, it's rugby, not geopolitics.
I'm not telling people what to do, I'm stating an opinion. You can all do what the fuck you like.
The clamour to be "right" by some on here is breathtaking.

 

[Lorenzo]

We were discussing the rugby before you piped in with your "I won't criticise, but then I don't think I'm a genius" crap.

 

[I like to watch]

Cheika is still getting the benefit of the doubt from me.
There are two or three selections I just don't get,but I'm on board until it all turns to shit.
unless we chance our arm and do a couple of whacky things we won't win.
I'd prefer to get flogged trying to win,than being strangled to death playing NH style.

As an aside.
Mods,is there any chance of inserting a poll on this thread,so posters can vote on how they perceive selections?
10/10 this squad are fucking certainties.....
1/10 this mob couldn't beat a subbies golden oldies team..etc etc

 

[No4918]

FFS, it's rugby, not geopolitics.
I'm not telling people what to do, I'm stating an opinion. You can all do what the fuck you like.
The clamour to be "right" by some on here is breathtaking.

Well of course someone on the "wrong" side would say that.

Ok, so put the Douglas thing aside. Taking 2 hookers is a massive risk. Pool of death in England. I really don't think any of the props will be serviceable as an international hooker. Really think they would struggle there at Super Rugby level. Anyway, the risk is all Cheika's and I certainly hope it doesn't become a problem.

 

[cyclopath]

We were discussing the rugby before you piped in with your "I won't criticise, but then I don't think I'm a genius" crap.

Discussing? It sounded like a lot of people on soapboxes shouting at each other.
And I do think I'm a genius, but just not at all things. I accept you might be different, but your crap seems to smell like everyone else's.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Whatever happens, the team and the coach have my full support and I'll be cheering hard for them no matter what. I might have some misgivings about some parts of the squad, but I think they've got over 90% of it right.